OpendanceAZ

OpendanceAZ is a collective of artists from all disciplines and backgrounds, who come together in collaborative projects in arts, education and performance.

2012 Core Group- Alex Cabeza, Dashiell Cote Ceballos, Natalia Ronceria Ceballos, David Chorlton, Tiffinie Greer, Deb Gregory, Martin “Mystik” Gonzalez, Anthony Shevlin Gonzales, Crystal Perla Inzunza, Dulce Juarez, Sat-Siri Khalsa, Fernando Lino, Robert “Flips” Lopez, Ana Bonilla Moreno, Annette Sexton-Ruiz, Mimi Solaire, Tracy Thomason, Cristina Valenzuela, Aimee Walsh, Kenyata Christina White.

OpendanceAZ- Support Team- Eileen Shrout Spitalny, Jacques Myers, Sierra Ramm, Ron Tang, Bridgette Covington Knox, Ismael Gaytan, Alberto “Sasha Bratz” Duarte,  Rosie Villegas Smith, Pricilla Monje.

Ana Maria Bonilla Carreno (Ana Moreno):
Director of Mexican Folkloric Dance for OpendanceAZ since 2008, was born the 14^thof September of 1963 in the city of Mexico. At 11 yrs of age she initiated her studies for teacher and dancer of folkloric dances of Mexico at the School of Bellas Artes in Mexico City. Ms.Moreno studied music, drama, ballet, contemporary dance, choreography, scenic and costume design, stage make-up and history of Mexico. For 6 years she danced with el Ballet Folklorico de Amalia Hernandez and with el Ballet Folklorico de Silvia Lozano, and taught classes of basic stagecraft. From 1987 to 1993 Ms.Moreno worked in the school of artistic initiation with the group Ollin Yoliztli (life and movement), which inspired her to start Ollin Yoliztli , her own Phoenix based Folkloric dance company. In 1994 to 2010, she was director of ballet folklorico for youth for the Scottsdale school district. For information about Ana’s classes and dance company please visit www.ollinyoliztli.com
 

Fernando Lino:

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, began studying Ballroom in 2006 at Arizona State University when he was 18. He specialized in Salsa, and performed with the ASU Latin Dance Team. He continued his studies with Decho and Bree, currently ranked No. 1 in U.S. Professional American Rhythm, and has competed in several competitions around the U.S. In 2010 Fernando began to study other forms of dance, expanding his repertoire to include Mexican Folkdance with Ana Bonilla Moreno, Ballet and Contemporary with Michele Ceballos Michot, Belly Dancing with Ava Fleming and Spanish dance with Bernadette Gaxiola and Angelina. Since 2010, Fernando has been a scholarship recipient for OpendanceAZ classes, teaching artist assistant and performed with OpendanceAZ Company.  Fernando has also performed in projects with the Arizona State University and in several local dance and performance group productions. Since 2011 Fernando has been teaching private lessons on an “Introduction to Salsa”, offering basic steps, simple partnering tips, and ballroom mambo techniques.

Kenyata Christina White:

Kenyata’s  study of dance began as a small child, having been raised in an air force family, traveling throughout her young life, she was able to study with a wide range of dance teachers and learn many different dance styles. A Multi-faceted artist, Kenyata White, Aka: Kenyata Christina, is a very loving, patient teacher, dynamic choreographer, accomplished dancer, vocalist, songwriter, actor, director and fashion designer. As the owner of Rippstyle Clothing, Kenyata has designed original costumes and one-of-a-kind specialty pieces for performance companies and individual clients. She has instructed around the Valley since 1999, teaching hip hop, jazz, tap, modern and musical theater at Phoenix College, Abby Bella Studios, Al Moro Studios, Plumb Performing Arts, OpendanceAZ Company and Dance in the Rockies in Durango, CO.

 

Tiffinie Greer:

Tiffany grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. She has been involved in the world of dance and the arts , since she was 5 years old. As a young girl she was part of the Jazz Etc. Dance Company based in North Phoenix and has been a member of OpendanceAZ since 1996. Tiffinie is an accomplished dancer, actor and painter. In 1993, she became a member of The Unlikely Theatre Company and worked with the company for 15 years, traveling to New York and Edinburgh to perform. With OpendanceAZ she has toured to Hermosillo,MX, performed throughout the Valley, and continues to work as a teaching artist and performer in the OpendanceAZ school and community programs, and is head of stagecraft and costuming for the company.

 

David Chorlton:

 

Roberta Chorlton

Roberta Chorlton retired in May, 2011 from 14 years teaching strings at the elementary level in the Gilbert Public Schools.  Prior to that she spent many years performing and teaching as a member of Musica Dolce on the Arizona Commission on the Arts Artists Roster, freelancing, and teaching privately. Her Bachelor of Music is from Arizona State University; her M.M. is from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. While an undergraduate, she was a member of the Phoenix Symphony. After finishing her Masters degree, she spent a year playing in the New Orleans Philharmonic before going to Vienna to pursue an interest in early music performance practice and playing on original instruments. During the seven years she was in Austria, she had the opportunity to play music from the Middle Ages all the way through to music by living composers, as she performed and recorded with the Capella Academica, the Eduard Melkus Ensemble, the Ensemble Musica Antiqua, and substituted in the Austrian Radio Orchestra, the Vienna Volksoper, and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. This experience has served her well when working with her husband, David, to create performances of his poetry accompanied by music.  At present, she freelances and teaches privately.

 

Natalia Ronceria Ceballos

Originally from Bogotá, Colombia Natalia has lived and worked throughout the U.S. and internationally. Coming from a diverse family of artists and entrepreneurs Natalia has always known the importance of hard work, creativity, giving back to our communities, having a passion for the work one does – while of course, having fun. With a professional background nestled in the non-profit sector she has continued to support the efforts of OpendanceAZ, her family’s organization, since her teens. Raised in the world of movement she was classically trained in Ballet as a child and moved in to exploring Breakdancing, Hip Hop, and Latin Dances as a teen and young adult. She has taught Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, Bachata and other well known Latin Dances to beginners and advanced students and continues to dance socially. For many years she was a principle teacher in OpendanceAZ’s residencies within schools and working with homeless youth – establishing movement as a positive outlet of expression. Though her professional path has taken her away from dance she continues to perform in community events and take class regularly.

www.linkedin.com/in/nataliarc
https://www.facebook.com/PayItBackPayItForward

Kenyata Christina

Multi-faceted artist, Kenyata Christina; is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, vocalist, songwriter, actor, director and fashion designer. Kenyata was born into a military family where she traveled around the states taking dance and theatre classes. As early as the age of three she accompanied her father to his band rehearsals where he sang in an Earth, Wind, and Fire tribute band. Since 1999 she has been instructing around the Valley, teaching hip hop, jazz, tap, modern and musical theater. Her baclground includes Phoenix College, The Arizona Black Theatre Troupe, Abby Bella Dance, Al Moro Dance, Rhythmania Dance, Plumb Performing Arts, Opendance and Dance in the Rockies in Durango, CO. She is the originator of B.A.H.M. (Ballet African HipHop and Modern). As the owner of Rippstyle Clothing, Kenyata has designed original costumes and one-of-a-kind specialty pieces for performance companies and individual clients.

Her singing career in the Valley has been strong in the last ten years. Kenyata has sang for various bands ranging from various styles that include but not limited to house, reggae, funk, soul, rock, and pop. She was one of the original members of the Hot birds and the chili sauce, and has sang back up vocals/lead and recorded with, Casper and the mighty 602 band, and Antedote “The Neato Project”. Kenyata regularly sings with the All good things band, a Jerry Garcia tribute band and The Great Gig in The Sky, a Pink Floyd tribute band as well as the lead singer in the New Orleans style band, The Medicine tent. She is also the musical director for the new musical review “Troubadour Cafe.” Currently Kenyata is working on her original music with Mark Picchiotti, DJ/Producer/Remixer, of Blue Plate Records. She will be releasing her first single in 2012. Kenyata is now the proud owner of RAW Roots Professional Performance Center, a place where pre-professionals learn to be successful in the professional world.  Facebook - Email

Other OpendanceAZ Staff:

Esau
Ana
Aimee
Emily
Ben
Theresa
Viktor
Ismael
Rebecca

More Collaborating Partners: